I blame Ciprian.
I blame myself.
I blame the enclave.
And I blame the Fringes too.
The closed-mouth mentality ends for me tonight. I’ll pry if I want to, bones, teeth, secrets and all. No one deserves privacy at my expense. Here in this crowded strip club, I make a vow: to learn everything I can about the supernaturals living in this realm.
I won’t be taken by surprise again.
Ciprian marches to the bar, his jaw rigid, pulse racing. If I focus, I can hear it over the music.Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump.I lick my fangs, testing the sharp points. I can practically taste his blood on my tongue.
Overconfident fool that he is, he’s letting me walk at his back. I could kill him before his heart finished one full pump. I reach for him, longing to feel his blood trickle down my throat again. I know how good it tastes, how warm and satisfying—Phantom pain pierces me, and I relive the indescribable agony of the angel’s sword plunging to the hilt in my gut.
Ciprian tasted like my salvation that night, but he was our damnation all along. Still... I retract my hand. Motivations aside, my honor refuses to kill the man who saved my life. At least while his back is turned. If I end him, I’ll do it while staring into his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Luca demands, wiping the sweat off his brow and ignoring the line of people clamoring for drinks. His forehead pinches as he focuses first on Ciprian, then me. “Are youboth okay?”
“We need to talk,” Ciprian says. His voice gets swallowed up by the din of the crowd, but we both hear him fine. “Once Celine wraps up.” He glances at the stage, anguish on his face as he watches her dance. My lips curl with disgust. He’s a consummate liar. Even now it looks like he truly cares for her.
Luca turns his attention to the line of people jockeying for his attention. “You assholes better order a pitcher now if you want it,” he shouts. “I’m about to take my break.”
Loud complaints greet that announcement, all of them yelling to be served.
Ciprian slumps onto a barstool, and I watch him like a hawk, happy to let him wallow in the anticipation. He snuck into our community, gained our trust under false pretenses, and now it’s time to pay the bill for our hospitality.
The enclave has earned every bit of the derision it gets around here. Never around to help, Dimitri Casanell and Joshua Therion love to send a minion to the Fringes to enforce their authority every few months. I am surprised we warranted a visit from Casanell’s heir, though. Ciprian must be out of favor with the self-proclaimed powers that be.
The cheering gets louder, signaling the end of Celine’s set. Like clockwork, Luca grabs a water bottle and rounds the bar.
“Here she comes,” he says, tossing me a warning look. I can only imagine how I seem to him right now. My bloodlust is teetering right below massacre level. His basilisk senses the predatory intent, and Luca the man doesn’t approve. “Let’s make this quick.”
I scoff. He’ll be singing a different tune as soon as he hears what happened. Ciprian will be lucky to walk out of here alive. I have to get a grip. Lying asshole or not, if we kill Dimitri Casanell’s son, we’ll pay with our lives.
“Hands to yourself, Rex, or you’ll get banned again.” Celine’svoice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I turn my head to see her prying the bear shifter’s fingers off her waist.
“I love it when you’re mean to me,” he says, slurring his words.
I blink, and everything turns ruby red. He reaches for her again, then my hand is around his throat, shoving his face into the bar top. His forehead hits the wood with a massive thump. Several people back away. I sense others closing in and snarl.
“Let him go, Alistair,” Celine hisses, tugging on my arm.
I growl. “Not until he apologizes.”
Using her full strength, Celine yanks me off the brute. “He doesn’t have to apologize. Gods, what’s the matter with you?”
I can’t believe she’s defending him. In front of all these people. “He had his hands on you,” I hiss and lunge for the bear again.
Celine shoves me back, glaring up at me like I’m the problem. She tosses the stunned crowd an apologetic smile, then levels me with an icy glare. “I had it handled,” she whispers.
“I’m supposed to stand by while someone paws at my girl?” I roar, my voice booming over the whispers and grumbles.No. Don’t do this.The thought is barely a whisper inside my mind. It’s no match for the anger.
“I don’t belong to anyone,” Celine says, steel in her voice and murder in her eyes. Every head in this bar is turned our way. She shifts uncomfortably on her feet.
“Nothing to see here.” She laughs. It’s the fakest sound I’ve ever heard.
“A little show for added value,” Luca jokes. “Rex, your next pitcher is on me.” He pats the surly bear on the back and hands him a napkin.
